ONS: 24 May 2015

AFRICA: Activists behind weeks of protests against Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza said they were suspending talks with the government after the murder of an opposition figure.

AMERICAS: Colombia’s security forces have killed at least five fighters from the FARC rebel group in an air strike in the north-western region of Antioquia.

ASIA: A group of women peace activists, led by American feminist Gloria Steinem, made a rare crossing of one of the world`s most militarized borders to promote reconciliation between North and South Korea.

MIDDLE EAST: The Iranian negotiation team has accepted inspections into the Iran’s military sites in talks with world powers for a possible nuclear deal, Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said.

TECHNOLOGY: Nigeria’s biggest mobile phone operator MTN has warned that its network faces shutdown due to fuel shortages that have crippled the nation.

TOP STORY

Southeast Asia: Nations still search for best ways to accommodate migrants

Ethiopia: Ethiopians voted in a parliamentary election that is expected to hand a landslide win to the ruling party. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Colombia: The country’s security forces killed at least five fighters from the FARC rebel group in an air strike in the north-western region of Antioquia. (BBC)

Ecuador: Ecuadoran police have smashed an international drug trafficking ring that attempted to ship cocaine to China, the interior ministry said. (AFP)

United States: The acquittal of a white Cleveland police officer set off angry but mostly orderly protests in Ohio. (AP)

Venezuela: Jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez said he is beginning a hunger strike and called for a mass anti-government protest next week in a leaked video. (AP)

ASIA

Region: A group of women peace activists, led by American feminist Gloria Steinem, made a rare crossing of one of the world`s most militarized borders to promote reconciliation between North and South Korea. (AFP)

Region: Trade ministers from 21 Asia-Pacific economies agreed on details of a study to identify challenges and ways toward the creation of a region-wide free trade zone, as they wrapped up a two-day meeting in the Philippines. (Kyodo)

Russia: The US said it was “deeply troubled” after President Vladimir Putin officially enacted a controversial law banning what Moscow deems to be “undesirable” non-governmental organizations. (AFP)

Spain: The Spanish “Indignado” protesters who inspired the worldwide Occupy movement are out to conquer city halls and regional governments across the country in elections. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Saudi forces and Yemen’s Houthi militia traded heavy artillery fire which blew up part of the main border crossing between the two countries overnight. (Reuters)

Iran: The Iranian negotiation team has accepted inspections into the country’s military sites in talks with world powers for a possible nuclear deal, Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday. (Xinhua)

Iraq: The Islamic State group seized the Iraqi side of a key border crossing with Syria after isolated government forces pulled out, a police officer and a provincial official said. (AFP)

Iraq: Iraqi forces regained ground from Islamic State militants in the country’s western region, advancing towards the city of Ramadi one week after it fell to the insurgents. (Reuters)

Yemen: Iran-backed Houthi rebels mounted their heaviest attacks in weeks in the central Yemeni city of Taiz in an attempt to capture the strategic area, residents said. (DPA)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Communications:Nigeria’s biggest mobile phone operator MTN has warned that its network faces shutdown due to fuel shortages that have crippled the nation. (AFP)